Oil Drain Connector Structure for Marine Filter

ABSTRACT

An oil drain connector structure for a marine filter includes a threaded head and an oil drain device to form a unit screwed to the bottom of the filter. A lower circular ring is provided on a groove below a number of through holes and located inside the threaded head, providing a rub locating function. An upper circular ring is provided on another groove above the through holes to control draining and sealing effects depending on the screwed status. This provides an easy and quick way to assemble and disassemble the connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an oil drain connector structure for a marine filter, and more particularly to one having a threaded head to connect with the bottom of the filter and an oil drain device. The threaded head has a threaded section at an upper end thereof and a base at a lower end thereof. The oil drain device has a guiding post inserting through the threaded head and engaging with the base of the threaded head. The threaded section of the threaded head is screwed to the bottom of the filter, providing a convenient screwed assembly.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A conventional marine oil drain connector comprises an oil drain device screwed to the bottom of a filter, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1-A. The oil drain device is provided with a guiding post extending into and screwed to the bottom of the filter. Another end of the filter is provided with a circular ring located on a groove above a guiding hole. It is inconvenient to take the filter out or to replace a new one due to its height and width.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided oil drain connector structure for a marine filter, wherein the filter has a bottom provided with a threaded tube, the oil drain connector structure comprising:

a threaded head, being a hollow pillar and comprising an outer threaded section at an upper end thereof and a base at a lower end thereof, the base having an inner threaded section and a geometric shape; and

an oil drain device, comprising a hollow block corresponding in shape to the base, a pair of lugs at respective sides of the hollow block, a hollow guiding post extending upward from the hollow block, and a hollow nozzle extending downward from the hollow block, the guiding post having an outer threaded section at a lower section thereof, a number of through holes at an upper section thereof, a pair of grooves spaced from each other for accommodation of an upper circular ring and a lower circular ring, and a closed top;

thereby, the guiding post inserting through the threaded head, the outer threaded section of the guiding post engaging with the inner threaded section of the base, the upper circular ring and the lower circular ring fitting onto the grooves and located outside and inside the threaded head, respectively, to form a unit to be screwed to the bottom of the filter

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an oil drain connector structure for a marine filter, which is easy to replace.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an oil drain connector structure for a marine filter, which is cost-effective.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an oil drain connector structure for a marine filter, which provides draining and sealing effects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional connector;

FIG. 1-A is a perspective view of the conventional connector;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a connector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3-A is a cross-sectional view according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in use;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in an unscrewed status;

FIG. 4-A is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention in a screwed status;

FIG. 5-A is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 5;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 3-A, the present invention comprises a threaded head 2 and an oil drain device 3.

The threaded head 2 is a hollow pillar for insertion of a guiding post 33 of the oil drain device 3. The threaded head 2 comprises an outer threaded section 21 at an upper end thereof and a base 22 at a lower end thereof. The outer threaded section 21 is screwed to the bottom A of a filter. The base 22 has an inner threaded section inside. The base 22 has a geometric shape, which may be a circle or a hexagon for connection of the oil drain device 3.

The oil drain device 3 comprises a hollow block 32, a pair of lugs 321 at respective sides of the hollow block 32, the guiding post 34 extending upward from the hollow block 32, and a nozzle 31 extending downward from the hollow block 32. The hollow block 32 corresponds in shape to the base 22 of the threaded head 2, which may be a circle or a hexagon. The lugs 32 are adapted for rotatable movement of the oil drain device 3. The guiding post 33 and the nozzle 31 are hollow. The guiding post 33 has an outer threaded section at a lower section thereof for screwed connection of the base 22 of the threaded head 2, a number of through holes 332 at an upper section thereof, and a pair of grooves 331 spaced from each other for accommodation of an upper circular ring 35 and a lower circular ring 34. The top of the guiding post 33 is a closed end for the oil to drain out through the nozzle 31.

To assemble the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3-A, the lower circular ring 34 fits onto the groove 331 below the through holes 332 of the oil drain device 3. The guiding post 33 is inserted into the threaded head 2 and the lugs 321 are turned to couple with the base 22. The upper circular ring 35 fits onto the groove 331 above the through holes 332 of the oil drain device 3. The upper circular ring 35 and the lower circular ring 34 are located outside and inside the threaded head 2, respectively, to form a unit to be screwed to the bottom of the filter. If it is necessary to take it out or to replace a new one, the lugs are turned toward an opposite direction. This provides an easy way to assemble and disassemble the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 4-A, the threaded head 2 and the oil drain device 3 are not screwed tightly. The lugs 321 are turned to move the oil drain device 3 downward until the upper circular ring 35 holds against the top edge of the threaded head 2 to prevent the oil from flowing downward. The lower circular ring 34 is against the inner wall of the threaded head 2, providing a rub location function. To drain the oil, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5-A, the threaded head 2 and the oil drain device 3 are screwed tightly. The lugs 321 are turned to move the oil drain device 3 upward until the upper circular ring 35 disengages from the top edge of the threaded head 2. The lower circular ring 34 is against the inner wall of the threaded head 2, providing a rub location function. The oil flows through the through holes 332 into the hollow guiding post 33 and is drained out through the nozzle 31. After draining the oil, the oil drain device 3 is turned to it original position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 4-A.

According to the aforesaid, the present invention is able to fix the threaded head 2 to the bottom of the filter and then to connect with the oil drain device 3, which provides draining and sealing effects for the same connector. This design is cost-effective for quick assembly.

Although particular embodiment of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. An oil drain connector structure for a marine filter, wherein the filter has a bottom provided with a threaded tube, the oil drain connector structure comprising: a threaded head, being a hollow pillar and comprising an outer threaded section at an upper end thereof and a base at a lower end thereof, the base having an inner threaded section and a geometric shape; and an oil drain device, comprising a hollow block corresponding in shape to the base, a pair of lugs at respective sides of the hollow block, a hollow guiding post extending upward from the hollow block, and a hollow nozzle extending downward from the hollow block, the guiding post having an outer threaded section at a lower section thereof, a number of through holes at an upper section thereof, a pair of grooves spaced from each other for accommodation of an upper circular ring and a lower circular ring, and a closed top; thereby, the guiding post inserting through the threaded head, the outer threaded section of the guiding post engaging with the inner threaded section of the base, the upper circular ring and the lower circular ring fitting onto the grooves and located outside and inside the threaded head, respectively, to form a unit to be screwed to the bottom of the filter
 2. The oil drain connector structure for a marine filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the geometric shape is either of a circle and a hexagon. 